Hello my fellow bloggers! :) ....

Sadly, I have some bad news. Because of the current work load I don't think I will have time to continue my blogging! :( Which really stinks for me because I was really looking forward to sharing some of the great reads from Ann Marie's book. I will continue reading the book and maybe I can come and update my blog once I've finished a chapter.

I have 2 book I need to be reading for work and I feel those take priority over this book. Anyhow, I will see you guys soon! :)

Have a beautiful week!

Handling Attire Problems in the Workplace

Ann Marie starts the second chapter with VERY important tip, 'Know when to dress up- or dress down'.

What can go wrong when it comes to professional attire? PLENTY!

Remember, you are working in a business environment and you should dress accordingly. Your attire should reflect both your environment and your position.

When dressing in 'business casual' dress just one notch down from what you would normally wear on business professional days.

Men: wear neat pair of pants, buttoned shirt, that has more texture or color in the fabric.

men's business casual by shopperdarcy on Polyvore.com

Women: wear skirts, tailored pants with blouses, blazers, and accessories that mean business.

Tip# 8 & 9

As we finish the first chapter of the book, "Opening Moves" we look at 2 key points.

In tip# 8, the author stresses the importance addressing other individuals by their first name only when granted the permission by that person. As a rule of thumb, if you are meeting someone for the first time, and the person is either prominent within his or her field or at least two decades older, you should address them as Mr./Mrs./Ms. (last name).

As a mental note please, refrain from asking someone permission to use a first name.

To conclude the chapter, Ann Marie explains the 101 on business card exchange! This is a very important tip for someone who is entering the business world! As a general rule, request a business card provided you've offered your own card first. If a person is of significant higher status, wait until they offer you their business card, rather than asking for one.

Hope everyone was able to learn something new within this chapter! Look forward to moving on to a very hot topic: BUSINESS DRESS 101!

Tip # 4-7

First of all I apologize for the missing days...

Tip#4: Manage the unconventional handshake:

What do you do when you are meeting someone who is clearly disabled? Avoid reaching for their hand and then pulling it back quickly. Issue a verbal greeting, pause, and observe the appropriate body language and act accordingly. Let the other person set the tone.

Tip #5: Turn a social gaffe into a positive experience.

Everyone experiences it at one time or another in their life. Most of oh so many times. We make a serious misstatement during an important presentation. Ann Marie's rule: Keep Your Composure!

Tip #6: Don't say "I'm Sorry" automatically

This is a very important tip I need to keep in mind. Every time someone gives me feedback and it's opposite of what I've done or presented I start off with an I'm sorry. Instead of jumping into an 'I'm sorry', I should thank them for their feedback and keep going. According to Ann Marie, a Thank you,is both appropriate and optimistic.

Tip#7: Handle name lapses gracefully

When you forget some one's name: Rule Number One: Don't ask, "Who you are." Instead ask kindly how that person has been and let them know it was great to see them. Hopefully, he or she will mention something that will trigger a name. If you still can't remember their name, be cordial and simply avoid using a name of any kind.

Tip # 3: Know the value of good handshake

Tip # 3 is knowing the value of a good handshake.

For this tip Ann Marie explains how important this one small gesture can be. She explains the difference between a limp, overpowering, and a sincere handshake.

The author gives tips for knowing how to a good handshake:

• -Clasp the other person's palm with your palm, rather than fingers to fingers

-Do not be so firm that you squeeze the other person's hand too hard. (simply apply a little pressure and let go)

-If you know the person well and wish to convey additional warmth, then place your free hand on top of the clasped hand or on the other person's arm or shoulder.

If you are going to another country, learn what the customs are there for shaking hands. This is very important even when not leaving your country. As businesses engage in a more global economy we need to know and understand other cultures' basic business behaviors.

Tip # 2: Know whom to introduce first

Ann Marie's second tip is one I've never stopped to think of before but that will sure come in handing from now on!

Tip #2: Know whom to introduce first

How many times have you been in a situation when you are introducing two different people and don't know which one to introduce first? Then once you do, you wonder if it was the correct move?

Well according to the book, you should introduce the person with the highest status first.

But what happens if they are on the same professional level? Who should you introduce first?

Ann Marie makes it simple: Introduce the person you know the least about first. This make them feel like they are apart of the conversation and more at ease.

From my point of view, this will also allow you to avoid the awkward silent moment that comes after introductions when you do not know much about the person you introduced last. When you are searching for something to say or praying someone else says something!

Very good tip, one I will be sure to keep in the back of my mine and hopefully use more often.

Tip #1: Make a super first impression

Ann Marie starts off with a simple yet powerful tip: Make a super first impression.

This is something you probably grew up hearing. You always want to make a good impression not just in your professional life but in your personal as well. Sadly, but true most people are judge on their first impression- something we are all guilty of doing as well.

The author highlights 3 points that will help you make a super first impression:

• Extend a confident handshake as you make eye contact
• Eliminate trendy words from your vocabulary
• When representing your organization carry material(s) that broadcast a 'quality' message. These materials will project an image of you and your organisation.

At the beginning of my business career, I began to read Seven Secrets of Successful Women. The number one tip I walked away with was, "Dress like the person in the position you aspire to be in." In business just like in other aspects of life you are treated according to your image and presentation.

To elaborate on the importance of making a super first impression, I would like to share the following article from MindTools.com titled, Making a Great First Impression.

Business Etiquette

BUSINESS Etiquette: 101 Ways to Conduct Business with Charm and Savvy
by: Ann Marie Sabath

Hello world! I am back, hopefully this time more often and with more insightful information. Now that all the boy drama is over I hope to concentrate 110% to my career and education. I am about to embark in the most important project of my career so far! The company I work for has a very aggressive and ambitions 5 year plan which we will begin to unfold this week. My role in the project is to work with a cross-functional team and an outside consultant to optimize our pricing and bundling structure. Because of the constant interaction with many outside businessmen and women I figure my first step towards a successful career is to brush up on my business etiquette.

If you know me well enough, you know I am the slowest reader ever! So I figure if I could find a small yet engaging book about business etiquette I could read and blog about it. If I schedule a time and set deadlines for my reading and blogging I know I can get this book read and share the knowledge gained with others out there who may not have the time to read.

So this is my plan; there are 116 tips plus an international etiquette chapter, which I hope to complete within 120 days. That gives me a deadline of completing this book on August 20, 2010 (I am allowing a couple of extra days)! Each day, I will write about a different tip, include my opinion about that certain tip and try to find a supporting article online.

As a way to kick off this project we look at Ann Marie's introduction. The book is filled with useful advice but according to the author, the underlying principal is to "Make the individual with whom you're dealing feel as though he or she were the most important person in the world."

She supports this by adding the fact that, as humans we tend to spend time- and will often go out of our way to help- those who make us feel like a million bucks.

So before we begin looking at the 116 tips in this book we can already walk away with one of the most useful tips in dealing with others; remembering to make an effort to learn more about others than you share about yourself!

I hope you enjoy this as much as I will. Please feel free to comment and if you have a book and want to bring something up about the tip discussed feel free to join in. I just ask that you do not jump ahead or retype the entire tip, for this is not our work and we don't have rights to this work.

See you tomorrow for the first tip!